The Supermarine Stranraer had fabric covered wings and a duralumin skinned fuselage and all but one of the 64 built were still in service at the outbreak of WWII, they flew anti-submarine and escort patrols with the RAF for the first three years of the war until replaced by the longer range Catalina and Canso, some still served operationally in anti-submarine and escort roles until 1945 with the RCAF. The Supermarine Stranraer was initially referred to as the "Stranny" or the "The Whistling Bird Cage" and had the misfortune to gain a later, less appealing nick-name of the "whistling shithouse", this was a result of a slipstream whistle which emanated from the toilet pan if used whilst in flight. The Supermarine Stranraer pictured above, CF-BXO, was sold after the war to Siple Aviation Ltd who up-rated it's engines to 1,000 hp Wright GR-1820-G202GA Cyclones and called the resultant aircraft a "Super Stranraer".
Supermarine Stranraer I Specifications: - Crew: pilot, navigator, radio operator and either two or three gunners
- Length: 54 ft 9 in (16.7 m)
- Wingspan: 85 ft 0 in (25.9 m)
- Height: 21 ft 9 in (6.6 m)
- Maximum weight: 19,000 lb (8,620 kg)
- Engines: Twin 920 hp (685 kW) Bristol Pegasus X radials
- Maximum speed: 165 mph (265 km/h) at 6,000 ft (1,830 m)
- Range: 1,000 mi (1,610 km)
- Service ceiling: 18,500 ft (5,640 m)
Supermarine Stranraer I Armament: - Three 0.303 in (7.7 mm) Lewis guns
- 1,000 lb (454 kg) of under-wing munitions such as bombs or depth charges
|
